Animal trap



1,' 1946. f P. M. BARBER y y 2,408,593 I A.ANTMAL vTRAP l Filed Febfzl, 1945" INI/EN TOR.

ATTORNEY-5'.

Patented Oct. 1, 1946' Paulmarbeanbegaeed's nel;

Application February 21, lois, 'seriai'ri'f'vaev (o1. i3-ss) 1 Claim.

' in less suffering for the animal, and with comparatively little damage to the animals fur.

Another object of the invention is to provide l a trap which may be employed in catching animals, birds or fish, the construction of the trap being such that it may be easily set without danger of injury tothe hands of the person setting the trap.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out Iin the claim, it being 4understood that changesmay be made in the construction andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. Y

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is'an elevational view illustrating a trap constructed in accordance with the invention, the jaws of the trap being shown as gripping the neck of an animal attempting to remove the bait from the bait hook of the trap.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the trap.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the bodyl portion of the trap is indicated by the reference character 5 and comprises an elongated yblock formed with a centralv longitudinal bore. The body portion 5 is formed with a slot 6, which extends transversely therethrough, from'the upper end thereof toa point in spaced relation with the lower end of the body portion, as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawing.

The bait hook is indicated by the reference character I and is mounted on the lower end of the rod 8, which is disposed within the bore.r Oner end of the rod 8 extends laterally at 9, thelength of the end 9 being such that the extremity thereof will extend beyond the front surface of the bodyv portion. As shown, the end 9V moves longitudinally of the slot 6.

Below the end 9, is an upwardly and outwardly extended arm I0 which also forms a part of the rod 8, the arm I0 being extended rearwardly animal setting off the trap, would 1 through the slot 5, the extremity thereof being k disposed beyond the rear surface of the body portion. Y

The trap also includes a pair of jaws II and I2, the jaw II having eyes at its ends that are tted over the ends of the pin I4 are coiled around the pin I3 one end of each of the springs being anchored to the body portion 5, while the opposite ends of the springs are wrapped around the jaw II so thatkwhen the jaw is moved to its set position as shown by Fig. l of the drawing, the spring will be placed under tension to urge the jaw downwardly, when released.

The jaw I2 is formed with eyes at its ends, in which the pin I5 is disposed so that the jaw may pivot thereon. The jaw I2 however, is so arranged that when in its normal set position, the ja'w I2 engages the body portion 5 at the side opposite to the jaw II. CoiledA springs I6 are mounted on the pin I5, and have their outer ends wrapped around the jaw I2 adjacent to the eyes thereof, theopposite ends of the springs vIi being anchored to the body portion 5 so that when the jaw I2 is moved upwardly to a position as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawing, the springs I6 will be tensioned. The end 9 and arm I0 of the rod 8, provide the trigger, the end 9 of the rod being designed to fit over the jaw II, as shown by Fig. 2, while the arm I is arranged to fit over the jaw I2. To set the trap, it is only necessary to swing the jaws II and I2 upwardly, to the positions shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing. The rod 8 is now moved upwardly until the end 9 thereof engages the jaw II, and the arm I0 engages the jaw I2. It is obvious that baitl placed on the bait hook will attract animals. The animal in an effort to remove thev bait from the bait hook, wil1 pull the rod 8 downwardly, releasing the jaws which swing together from opposite sides ofthe body portion, grippingan animal between the jaws, y

in a manner as shown by Fig. 1.

The trap also includes a supporting rod indicated by the reference character II, the rod being provided with a laterally extended arm I8 which is'provided with a stop I9 at a pointadjacent to` the' free end thereof. The extremity of the arm I8 bends upwardly as at 20,'so that when the arm is positioned in the openings formed in the upper end of the body portion for the reception ofthe arm I8, the arm will not slide therefrom. When the trap is positioned for use, the

rod I1 is forced into the ground surface as shown,

by Fig. '1, and the body portion 5 is hung on the'arm I8. The jaws IIand I2 are now swung upwardly to the full line positions in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and the rod 8 is moved upwardly I3. Coiled springsl until the end 9 thereof and arm I0 thereof en. gage their respective jaws, holding the jaws in their set positions. When the rod moves downwardly, the jaws will be freed. and the springs will move the jaws to the dotted line positions shown by Fig. 1, catching the animal attempting to remove the bait therefrom.

While I have shown and described the trap for use in catching animals, it is to be understood that the trap may be used in catching iish or birds, with equally as satisfactory results.

What is claimed is:

An animal trap comprising an elongated body portion having a central longitudinal bore extending from one end of said body portion, said body portion having a slot extending transversely therethrough and communicating with the bore,

` a rod slidably mounted Within the bore and slot,

Cil

portion, one of said jaws .adapted to engage the end of the'rodrthe opposite jaw adapted to engage the arm secured to the rod, holding the jaws in their set positions, said rod adapted to move downwardly releasing the jaws, and said jaws adapted to swing into gripping relation with re- 15 -spect to each other.

PAUL M. BARBER. 

